Thursday, 31 August 2017

Long street: Cape Town's favourite street

A night spent in the Long Street, is the night full of unforgettable memories especially if you are a party animal. If you visit Cape Town and you want to experience different vibe of night life then Long Street is definitely the place to be. Long Street can be described as the loudest and busiest street ever in Cape Town; it is a street with lot of bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs lining this iconic street. It is known as the most electrifying experience to have with friends and partying at the best clubs or pubs.

The street does not have only clubs where you can party but variety of things like shopping and restaurant where you can get your favorite food and cuisine.
The fun is versatile in all ways possible, you find the all the vibe you are looking for a first class, there is a place for that, you want to go and vibe out like a teenager, first club night and there is a place for that too. Long Street does not accommodate people who drink alcohol only because you can even go there to enjoy the music and the company of people who loves to be in this iconic street. Most people say you cannot visit Cape Town and not go to Long Street and once you have been there you will understand the reason for them to say that. Most of other clubs in Cape Town closes at the certain time but not the clubs that are in Long Street, They do not close you dance till the sunrise.

The experience of the street was so exciting and way different from that of Pretoria even the vibe was different. “Long Street is just the heart of Cape Town itself alone. It is all in one where people from different places (including abroad) come together to mingle, connect, have fun and discuss business,” said Thami Tsotetsi, a resident from Cape Town. The street has so many clubs that  once you get there you will be confused on which club to go and party but which ever club you choose to go in you will have so much fun and  you will enjoy.

The street it is more alive at night, just walking down the street to see different clubs and pubs. It is not only the fun that would drag your attention at this street but also how nice it becomes at night, all the beautiful lights from different clubs the street has. Long Street gave students a chance to have fun, even people they thought they were quite but not in Long Street, they danced all night long.
What is nice about the street is that there are lots of caps that will safely take you home if you’ve had enough. 

No matter how nice and exciting Long Street is but you will have to watch yourself when you there because there are drug dealers that are ready to offer people drugs and beggars which most people do not feel comfortable around them. One of the clubs students went to is the Mexican; the club had all the vibe students were looking for and also the special prices the club offer on beer and shooters.

 The staff was friendly and helpful to student especially for a fact that students were not familiar with the place.The night life keeps the city going and gives people something to talk about. Students really enjoyed being in Long Street because it was one of the places they wanted to see in their Cape Town trip and will of course love to go back there again. The purpose of going to Long Street was to have fun, bond and that was all achieved. Going to Cape Town was the best thing for the students because they could even see the buzzing street that most people talk about. No students who went to this street and regret going there, so this is the proof that going to Long Street was worth the while in fact the Cape Town trip on its own was worth it.

Tuesday, 15 August 2017

Celebrating the Rocks of the country





It is that month again where South Africa commemorates Women's month. Every year in August we celebrate and remember what women of  1956 did to free us as a country during apartheid era. They marched to Union Buildings on 9 August in protest against the extension of pass Laws to women. Women of 1956 fought fiercely for us to have freedom we are enjoying  now.

They did not only fought for the Law pass but also for equality, oppression and equality.
Today we celebrate and appreciate what they did for the country. I think it is only fair to treat them with respect and dignity because they did this country very well, women are called  Imbokodo  (Rocks). They did not get this name simple but they earned it.

Since South Africa  became the democratic country, Constitution was written for everyone in the country to be free. South Africa is now a free country and everyone is treated equally. Now women are treated equal as men because they are considered when applying for jobs, some are CEO's in big corporate companies. They now given a chance to sit in parliament and to also contest to be the next president of the country.

                                                                          


Women are the future of this country because many women raised their children alone. I have seen this happening a lot. Most women struggle in raising their children because their husbands left them. Although women are classified as strong creatures but they need protection from men and they should not be abused. The issue of  abuse and human trafficking has been escalating rapidly and something serious need to be done to stop women abuse.

Although some people have a  negative view of women being equal to men because they believed that men are superior than women. Long time ago women were not allowed to go and work, only men could do that. I think it is time for them to change their mind set and not pass this kind of mind to the next generation.

I think we have to teach our  young boys that men are not better than women, we need to do away with that kind of stigma because it is destroying our country. They should also be taught that women can do what  men can do and they can do it even better than them and that women have the ability to change the world.They should also be informed that no work is for men or women we are all equal. We have many women who do jobs that were known that only men can do them  and they are doing very well in those jobs. We now live in the democratic country and we do everything by the book or at least we can say by the law.

Wednesday, 17 May 2017

THICK, FIT AND FABULOUS


Children who grow up thick grow up with the stigma that they are not beautiful enough or the is something wrong with their bodies. Studies reveals that they grow up with low self-esteem and struggle to express themselves with things they love. They are constantly being teased at school, some even at their homes.

It has been happening for decades now because when you are thick you are not being told that you are beautiful even though you don't need people's opinion to feel appreciated but imagine when you are still young. When you are a child you are vulnerable and naive. If we can take a look even in social media that is the mind set they portray about thick ladies, and we should remember that social media has a lot of influence in people's mind.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
   
When you are fat it does not necesarrily mean that you are unhealthy. What we need to also understand is that being fat there are lot of chances of you to getting  diseases, you can get diseases like  high blood pressure, heart disease, sugar
diabetes but that does not mean they have to feel unwanted. We should remember that African women have curves and we should let them flaunt them.

Just because you are skinny it does not you are healthy. You can be fat and healthy depending on what you eat and if you are exercising as we all know that study said we all should exercise regularly.

People should stop calling thick people with names and take their time to know them so that they can see their beauty. I am glad that things are now changing, great platforms have been opened and they are now nice names that they are called with like thick or plus size women not fat. Beauty pageant for plus size woman are opened and  media is talking about thick women. This is their chance to show their beauty to the world and take part in such events.



Thursday, 20 April 2017

SQUASH; AN UNCOMMON SPORT

                                                     



Most of the people are not aware of the sport called squash; In fact I can say they don’t even know that it exists. What is squash? Squash is a racket played by two (single) or four (double) in a four walled court with a small hallow rubber ball. In this sport they also use racket just like in tennis but instead of hitting a net, players hit a squeezable ball against the wall.

Squash was invented in Harrow school in England out of the older game rackets around 1830 before the game spread to other schools eventually becoming an international sport. It was introduced to South Africa in the early days of 20th century through the influence of British military forces with the first courts being built at the Johannesburg country club and the Pretoria squash club. The sport is not part of the Olympic Games, I assume maybe that is the reason people do not know about it.

As this game was spreading, it was also introduced to Tshwane University of Technology, Soshanguve North Campus in 2011. Before 2011 squash courts were used as store rooms for old tables until Dr de Jager a lecturer in the campus, saw an opportunity and wished to share her skills with students. She played squash in the National level in the past 30 years.
 Every year new first years join the squash training sessions although they are not reaching number they are aiming for. They recruit the first in the orientation program. “After playing squash, many students thanked her that they are now able to focus more intensively on their studies and it has helped them to boost their self-confidence” said Dr de Jager.

I also did not know that this kind of sport exist, I haven’t even seen it on television or maybe I did I just didn’t pay much attention to it, I don’t know. I first heard about it from my roommate, that’s when my curiosity started. I wanted to know more about it; I wanted to find out what’s so uncommon about it that people do not even talk about it. I had lot of thoughts in my mind that maybe the sport is boring. To my surprise I found it very interesting and I have fallen in love with it.




HOW TO PLAY SQUASH SAFELY:


  • ·         One player serve to start a rally which proceeds until one player hits the ball out
  • ·         Squash can be played using a couple of scoring options traditional (international) scoring point a rally soring (PARS).

Just like any other sport, it has rules that a player have to abide by but I don’t think they difficult  I mean there is nothing difficult in following the rules.

HOW TO SERVE:
The server, with at least one foot in the serve box, starts play by hitting the ball directly onto to the front wall between the cut line and outline to rebound so that, if allowed, it bounces for the first time in the opposite half of the court and behind the short line.

LETS:
A let is undecided stroke and the serve or rally in respect of which a let is allowed, shall not count and the server shall serve again from the same box.

STROKE:
A player wins a stroke;

  • ·         If a server fails to make a good serve
  • ·         If the opponent fails to make a good return of the ball in play
  • ·         If the ball in play touches the opponent or anything that is worn by the opponent whilst on the way to the front wall
  • ·         If the player drops the racket, calls out or in any way other distracts the opponent, and the referee considers that such occurrence has caused the opponent to lose the stroke.
  • ·         If the ball hits the ceiling or any object outside of the court.

g     https://youtu.be/ezSzJU7oFBI


  • https://soundcloud.com/user-814127998/squash-sport













Friday, 31 March 2017

IS BLACK TAX A BURDEN TO YOU?


                                     

Most of black people are faced or rather I say are affected with the issue of “black tax”. According to Cynthia the term black tax is used to describe the obligation of employed black South Africans to provide for their family and extended family. If we are to be honest and accurate, black tax is costs by consequences of inequality. The major issue of calling it “black tax” is that it makes the nature of the high cost of being part of disadvantaged group unique to black people.




Black people have degrees and doctorate but they have not bought their dream cars yet, they are not where they want to be or when they thought they will be with 15 years of working. The black tax issue it blocks road of success for black people. Some people view it as a burden, they are saying that they don’t have to repay their parents back just because they have raised them and paid for their education.


FACTS BOX:
  • ·         Financial pressure it put people through
  • ·         Black tax lead to debt and emotional abuse
  • ·         If it comes to a point where to can’t handle, sit your parents down and explain the situation
  • ·         Organize your finances




https://soundcloud.com/user-814127998/rebeccas-view-on-black-tax

https://youtu.be/dH6DcOv0Z5I

Friday, 24 March 2017

VARSITY TV NOW AT TUT CAMPUSES


Are you a Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student looking for a platform to showcase your talent? Varsity TV is here for you. Varsity TV is the platform where students are given an opportunity to present their abilities and to give out their opinions and share their experiences as varsity students.




Varsity TV started five years ago by Refilwe Lediga, he was a student when he came up with this great idea of Varsity TV while he was studying at University of Johannesburg. “Refilwe saw that campuses had different kinds of media available to students but no TV, so he took advantage of the of the gap so that students can entertain themselves by watching TV that is tailor made for them, when they are done with their lectures and still want to hang out on campuses”, said Buhle Hlastwayo, a media and communication liaison officer and It has been going strong since then.


Varsity TV is been at all campuses of University of Johannesburg and University of Witwatersrand and now they are increasing their footprint by catering for Tut. The team of varsity TV is determined to take the brand to the next level though they are facing challenges of viewership and this sometimes slows down their programs because TV is about the audience. The team is still working hard to increase their viewership. There more the viewership the more the expansion of exciting ideas for varsity TV.

The team is trying everything at their art most best for students to showcase and have confidence with their talent. In addition, varsity TV is building relationships with bigger Media companies to help students to keep growing and it will help students to get exposure. They will also get a chance to be recognized and will get to showcase their talent on bigger platforms. Their plan is to have screens around campuses, at UJ and Wits University there are already screens around the campuses and they are planning to do the same at Tut.

It is a great idea for campuses to have varsity TV because not only does it give students to show off their talent but also give them an opportunity to learn new things about TV and to know whether they should stick to it and see where their talent lies. It will also encourage students to follow what they love because there are many students who have talents in acting, singing, poetry and many more but they don’t get a chance to showcase it. Now varsity TV is giving them a chance to show people what they are made off.


https://youtu.be/sXfyvWeuMHM


https://soundcloud.com/user-814127998/buhle-hlatshwayomedia-and-communication-liaision

Friday, 17 March 2017

Alcohol advertisements mislead

These days, advertising is almost everywhere we go, it’s what we see each and every day. Alcohol advertisements reaches the youth through various media such as billboards, magazines, sports, stadium signs and many more. According to two studies conducted by the South African Medical Research System (SAMRC) and Soul City Institute, alcohol has a direct influence on the drinking patterns of young people in the country. SAMRC made the similar study in Tshwane and found out 90% of young people had been exposed to alcohol advertising; the studies looked at alcohol availability and young people drinking patterns.

The minister of health Aaron Motsoaledi has urged society to support him in his bid to stop the advertising of alcohol beverages. He has announced that draft legislation to provide a total ban is to be presented to parliament this month. If this bill could be passed, he believes that it could save billions of rand in health costs. In 1997 the tobacco industry and the advertising agencies, all said there would be massive job losses, if the cigarettes and tobacco products were removed in the advertisement, but the truth is no jobs were lost.





Before graduating high school, students will spend about 18,000 hours in front of television more than they will spend in school. During this time they will watch about 2,000 alcohol commercials on television each year. Imagining sitting at home watching this ad that is playing and people on it become stylish and sexy after using the product. Bear in mind that in University you are on your own, you can party and drink alcohol as much as want.
Alcohol ads typically portray people cool and fun after using the advertised alcohol, the product makes occasions better and people want to be seen drinking this product. I mean imagine you are a first year student at University and you have low self- esteem and you saw this cool ad that makes people look cool and you will say to yourself why not try this product so that I can look cool myself like no one wants to look uncool and uptight in front of their peers.

It is indeed a great move of banning alcohol advertisements because this could lower the alcohol abuse the youth would not be encouraged to drink alcohol. Alcohol advertisement is like they tell people to go and drink alcohol because they make everything look normal and it gives young people the impression that drinking alcohol is a way to go and it is what happens in our daily basis. Some advertisement show that you will be good at sport after drinking their product, question is how you can be good at something when you are not sober, rather drink water than alcohol.

 


https://youtu.be/6UY0OgCHDQo

https://soundcloud.com/user-814127998/sandile